Pneumatic tool



144581 Um 4,1927 W J. GUYER PNEUMATIC TOOL Filed Oct. 12. 1925 Patented Oct. 4, 1927.

FATE T WILLIAM J. GUYER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 KING ENEUMATIC TOOL COMPANY, OF CHICAGD, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

PNEUMATIC TOOL.

Application filed October 12, 1923. Serial No. 668,098.

This invention relates to fluid-operated tools such for instance as pneumatic hammers and the like. I

Among other objects the invention is intended to provide practicable and reliable means for releasably locking assembled body parts in order to prevent separation or loosening by the jarring or vibration.

In combination with locking means, the invention is also intended to provide means for properly directing the exhaust'of the motive fluid;

The invention will be readily understood by referenceto an illustrative embodiment thereof shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a conventional type of pneumatic hammer having means embodying the invention; the nose of the hammer with its riveting set or other working tool being broken away; I

Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevation of a portion of the tool at the junction of the cylinder and handle base, showing a locking means in elevation and a'surrounding exhaust deflector in cross-section; 1

Fi 3 is an elevation of a portion of the tool ody with the said locking means and deflector in unassembled position;

4 is a perspective view ofthe said locking means;

Fig. 5 is a detail section showing the connection ofthe means with the hammerbarrel or cylinder. r

The body of the illustrative implement comprises the cylinder or barrel 1, in which works the reciprocatingplunger or piston for deliveringimpactson the rivet-set or other working tool, and the cap-like memher or handle-base 2 which encloses the valvemechanism for controlling the operation of the implement. 4 a a I As well known, the handle base in a pneumatic tool is usually interiorly screw-thread ed and is screwed uponthe barrel or an intermediate body member. The implement shown is of the type in which-the handle base screws directly on the barrel.

The cylinder 1 and handle-base 2 of the illustrative implement typify assembled body members, joined by a screw-connection,

or by means including a screw connection (not'shown), and subject to a tendency to loosen or separate by'the'jarring or vibration incident to the operationof the tool;

I As

For relea sably locking the assembly in tightly connected condition, locking means is provided including a resilient clasp ens circling the cylinder and having engagement with respective body members in such manner as to resist any unscrewing tendency.

A clasp for thispurpose is shown in Fig. 4, the clasp being designated as a whole by the numeral 3. It is shown in the form of a double or bi-branched bracelet,'the two parts of which are designated by the-numerals .6 and 7. For convenience, the part 6 may be termed a 'detent, one of its functions being to engage ratchet teeth 10 on the end of the handle-base 2; The part 7 may be termed a clamp, its primary function being to grip the barrel or cylinder. The connectingportion 8 of the two branches of the clasp 'or looking bracelet may be termed an abutment member, which in this instance is provided with a tooth or rib 4- to engage a notch or groove 5 in the cylinder for positioning the clasp.

According to conventional practice, the portion of the hammer barrel or cylinder 1 on which the handle-base 2 is screwedhas an increased diameter, as indicated at 9. The locking clasp 3 is intended to beslipped over the smaller portion of the cylinder and to be; forced upon the-enlarged portion 9 in the position shown n Fig. 2 of the drawings.

Ports for exhausting motive fluid, are

dicated at. 13. It will be observedlthatythe members Gand 7 of the locking clasp are spaced apart substantially the full width of the exhaust ports and the. locking clasp or bracelet is so constructedthat when in open. ative posit-ion, as shown in Fig, 2, the ports lie between the members 6 and 7. :An annufla-r channel for the exhaust of motive fluid is provided between said members 6 and 7 I 1 and a surrounding shield 15 the latter being termed a soscalled exhaust deflector, while also. serving to houseand protect the lockin-g means. The exhaust of inotive'iluid is directed from the tool in a desired direction, for instance toward the under side or to the right-hand side of the implement, by holes '17 in the exhaust deflector. Said shield or Y I exhaust deflector "15 may comprise a resilient or split bandhaving at one end an inwardly directed flange 16 which snaps into and :is seated 1 11 an annular'groove 14k in the handle *base before indicated the handle-base2 is said member are both effective to enable it to function as hereinafter set forth. The clamp member 7, extending around the cylindrical portion 9 from the abutment 1nem- -ber 8, is likewise adapted to grip the same or to contract thereon.

The locking clasp 3 is shown in Fig. 3 in a position wherein it is about to be placed in proper operative relation to the barrel or cylinder 1 and the handle-base 2. As the locking clasp diameter is less than the diameter of the cylindrical portion 9 of the barrel, it will be understood that when the clasp is slipped over the tool barrel and forcibly moved upon the portion 9 the clasp will be circumferentially expanded and caused to grip the cylinder.v As the clasp is forced into place, the positioning element or tooth 4 will snap into the recess 5 on the barrel, and the clasp will thus be effectively held in proper position.

Prior to the seating of the. positioning element 4 in the notch 5, the teeth 11 will engage with the teeth 10, thus causing the detent member 6 to become stressed or flexed laterally as the element 4 is forced into position to snap into the recess 5. The distorting of themember 6 by this action may tend to unseat the positioning element 4,. but this tendency is overcome by the force with which the clamping member 7 grips the cylinder 9, which tends to hold the positioning element seated.

After positioning the clasp. as above described, the handle-base 2 may berotated so as totighten it in its screw-threaded rela tionship to barrel or cylinder 1, the ratchetteeth 10 overriding the complementary teeth 11. I

In order to ensure the tendency of the detent to constantly urge the cylinder 1 and the handle-base 2 in opposite directions, so as to tighten them in this screw-threaded relationship, force may be applied in a tangential direction to the end of the offset portion 12 of the locking clasp after the handle member has been tightened, so asto cause the teeth 7 11 to override their complementary teeth 10 untilthe next succeeding teeth abut in such a manner as to maintain the detent member-6 in a circumferentially stressed and expanded condition. Any tendency by such stressing of the member 6 to tip the positioning element 4 from its properly seated condition within the recses 5 is effectively counteracted by the clamping action of the member 7, maintaining said member seated.

After the locking clasp has been assembled and stressed as above described, the shield or exhaust deflector 15 may be moved (to the left, with reference to Fig. 3) and expanded so that its flange 16 will snap into position within the groove 14, and be held by the radial resiliency of the deflector.

The shield 15 acts as a protective element. for the locking means and prevents injury to the cooperating ratchet teeth, from the rough usage to which the tool is subjected. It also acts to protect the operator against injury by parts of the locking means and from annoyance by the exhaust of the motive fluid throughout the entire circumference of the. tool; the exhaust being directed through the holes 17.

When it is desired to disassemble the com bined locking means and exhaust deflector structure herein described, an implement such as a chisel or screw driver may be inserted between the abutting ends of the exhaust deflector 15, so as to expand the latter and place it in such condition that it may be readily moved away from the handle 2 along the barrel or cylinder 1. This action uncovers the locking clasp or bracelet, which may then be removed from the position in which it is shown in Fig. 2 by the removal of the lug or retaining member 4 from the notch 5. This may be accomplished by the insertion of a wedge between the abutment member 8 and the portion 9 of cylinder 1,

and by subsequent forcing of the locking clasp to the right along the cylinder. This action removes the tooth 4 from alignment with the notch 5, and after the locking clasp is moved from the enlarged portion 9 of the cylinder it may be readily slipped over the remainder of the cylinder soas to be entirely separated therefrom. Thereafter thecylinder 1 may be held in a vise and the handle member unscrewed therefrom by means of the insertion of a bar through the looped part of the handle.

It will be obvious that the present invention is not limited to the specific details of construction and arrangement of the illustrative implement, since the same may be variously 'modified; Moreover it is not essential that all of the features of'the inven- 1 tion be used conjointly, since they may be advantageously used in various difierent combinations and sub-combinations.

Having described an illustrative embodiment of my invention, I claim:

1. In a pneumatic tool, separably connected body members, one screwed upon the other; and means constantly urging said members into tightly connectedrelationship, comprising an integral clasp embracing one of said members and having an abutment seated in engagement therewith; said clasp having a resilient arm engaging the other member and adapted to be circumferentially stressed between the point of'such engagement and the abutment, and having a clamping portion which resists unseating of said abutment.

2. In a pneumatic tool, separably connected body members, one screwed upon the other; one of said members having ratchet teeth; a locking means on the other member comprising a bifurcated clasp providing a pair of contractile spring arms and a connecting abutment portion; the member embraced by said clas'p having a seat engaged by said abutment portion; one of said spring arms having a laterally toothed portion engaging said first mentioned rachet teeth; and the other spring arm firmly gripping the member embraced by the clamp; whereby after the members are screwed together the toothed arm of the clasp may be sprung to cause a re-engagement with the firstmentioned ratchet teeth in a position to stress or expand said arm so as to exert a force between said members in a direction tending to tighten the screw connection between them, while unseating of said abutment portion of the clasp is prevented by the holding action of the other arm- 3. An implement of the class described having, in combination, separably-connected body members and means for releasably locking said members in assembled relationship, comprising a double-armed bracelet or locirmg said body members in assembled:

relationship, comprising a double armed bracelet or clasp, one arm thereofconsti 'tuting a contractlle clamp which grips one of said body members, the other arm spaced from the first arm and coacting "with the other body member to prevent separation of I the body members; one of said body mem- "bers provided, with motive-fluid exhaust ports about which said spaced arms are arranged so as not to obstruct the exhaust; and an exhaust deflector surrounding said bracelet. r

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

WILLIAM J; GUYER 

